FW: International Education Week Keynote, UNHRC Goodwill Ambassador, Mary Maker, Thursday, Nov. 14 at 3pm at Moss Arts Center (Chance to win free Taaluma Tote)
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Reminder of events this week as part of International Education Week!
Tonight FREE Dance of Nations at the Haymarket Theater in Squires, 7 pm, come out and support friends at this celebration of the beauty of dance around the world!
There are also some new giveaways for two events in particular, please see the message below:
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Please join us for International Education Week at Virginia Tech, a weeklong celebration to promote the power of global engagement and intercultural exchange developed by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.
On Thursday, November 14 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador Mary Maker will be delivering a keynote talk entitled, "Global Engagement Begins Here: Dialogue as the Cornerstone of a Global Classroom" at the Moss Arts Center Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre. Dean Laura Belmonte of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences will be giving opening comments on the role of international education and global engagement.
About refugee education activist Mary Maker: Mary Maker is a South Sudanese refugee, educator, and activist for refugee education, currently working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). After fleeing her war-torn country as a child, Mary found hope and security through education at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. She has since become a dedicated teacher to young refugees in her community, believing that education is a critical tool for rebuilding lives and empowering a generation often denied access to the classroom. In addition to her work in education, Mary is an actor, fashion lover, and writer, sharing her story on global platforms such as TEDx and United Nations summits to advocate for resilience, peace-building, and inclusion in education.
Mary understands viscerally what it means to be one of the 120 million displaced people in today’s world — to see education as both a lifeline and a seemingly impossible dream. She also knows how education can turn tears of loss into a passion for peace. Mary invites listeners to see displacement — whether from war, natural disaster, or personal circumstance — as a universal human experience that demands not just empathy, but action. Mary exhorts her listeners to contribute to the ripples made by education that will one day become waves of change.
Link for more information.
Attendees will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a free Taaluma Tote created by alums Jack and Alley.
Steger Center Experience
Thurs., Nov. 14 9 a.m. to Noon
In the Sandbox/SAM Lab at the Moss Arts Center (on the ground floor)
If you haven't seen the Virginia Tech's Steger Center for International Scholarship in Switzerland, it's time! Located in the heart of Europe, the Steger Center has been serving Virginia Tech students studying abroad for decades. The Center provides a warm, welcoming place to call home while you're immersing yourself in a new culture and traveling throughout Europe. The Living Learning Community at the Steger Center ensures every students has ways to stay connected and thrive in community.
Stop by the Sandbox at 9am for the launch of the event to learn more about the Steger Center programs and talk with the Center's student ambassadors. There will be Swiss chocolate and a chance to win a free Taaluma Tote created by alums Jack and Alley.
There are many more programs and opportunities to engage with throughout International Education Week. We'd love to see you there. Check out the full week of programming flyer or the event website.
Take care,
Rachel Fitzgerald
Associate Director for Global Education
Virginia Tech | Global Education Office (GEO)
526 Prices Fork Road, Room 131
Blacksburg, VA 24061
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